Cactaceae plant

ABSTRACT

A new plant variety of the Cactaceae family is related to the `Kris Kringle` and `Lavender Doll` varieties of the truncatus species and Zygocactus genus and has a growth habit providing specimens that combine the following principal distinguishing characteristics: a fast growth rate as comparable to that of the `Kris Kringle` variety; a natural tendency to branch without inducement by pruning during the growth period prior to blooming and which is comparable to that of the `Kris Kringle` variety; resistances to nutrient deficiencies and fungus type diseases that are comparable to those of the `Kris Kringle` and `Lavender Doll` varieties; a substantially greater resistance to flower bud abscission in comparison to the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieites; and a bloom with less recurve in the tube forming tepals in comparison to the `Kris Kringle` variety and which commonly occurs from about 2 to 4 weeks earlier than blooms of the `Peach Parfait` variety, and having a bloom life of from about 6 to 9 days, a shorter style and perianth tube than those of the `Kris Kringle` and `Lavender Doll` varieties and perianth tube laminating and forming tepals with marginal blade areas that in color are dominated by pink, yellowish pink, red and/or reddish orange hues.

The invention relates to a new and distinct plant variety of theCactaceae family and which has been named the Zygocactus truncatus`Twilight Tangerine` by the inventors.

Certain plant varieties of the Cactaceae family are well known in thefoliage plant market and among these is the Zygocactus truncatus varietycommonly known as the `Christmas Cheer` variety. This variety and itsrelated varieties tend to bloom in the months of November and Decemberin the Northern Hermisphere and hence their appearance in the retailmarket area is primarily during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

The `Christmas Cheer` variety has what may be called a "salmon" colorand among its descendants are the varieties of the truncatus specieswhich have been named the `Lavender Doll`, `Kris Kringle` and `PeachParfait`.

The `Lavender Doll` variety has a generally "purplish" colored bloom andits characteristics are set forth in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,690. The`Kris Kringle` variety, on the other hand, has a generally "reddish"colored bloom and its characteristics are generally set forth in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 3,688. The `Peach Parfait` variety has a generally"salmon" colored bloom and its characteristics are generally set forthin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,693. All of these patented varieties have amore upright, compact appearance than specimens of the `Christmas Cheer`variety.

A general objective of the invention has been to develop a variety ofthe Catcaceae family which preserves or improves upon characteristicsfound in specimens of the `Kris Kringle`, `Lavender Doll` and `PeachParfait` varieties and has a "salmon" colored bloom but whichnevertheless blooms earlier than specimens of the `Peach Parfait`variety.

The objectives of the invention have been fully realized by thedevelopment of the new plant variety hereinafter described in detail.The new plant variety was developed in a nursery located at WinterGarden, Fla., as a hybrid secured by cross pollinating the flower of aplant specimen of a variety developed by the inventors from a vegetativemutation that appeared on a specimen of the `Lavender Doll` variety withpollen from a plant specimen of the `Kris Kringle` variety. The seedstaken from the fertilized seed pod were cultivated at the mentionednursery location and after prolonged observation of the seedlings, thehybridized plant of the new plant variety was selected and asexuallyreproduced by the inventors at the Winter Garden nursery through thepropagation of stem cuttings taken from the original hybrid plant. Thematernal plant variety is a research variety that has not appeared onthe market. The variety generally resembles the `Lavender Doll` varietyexcept that it has slightly larger phylloclades and flower blooms and itexhibits poorer natural tendencies to branch without inducement bypruning during the growth period prior to blooming so that it has a lesscompact appearance in comparison to the `Lavender Doll` variety.

Through successive propagations, it has been ascertained that specimensof the new plant variety generally resemble the parent varieties but aredistinguishable from these varieties and from other related varietiesknown to the inventors by a growth habit which is evident in plantspecimens propagated and grown under nursery conditions utilized in thegrowing of tropical plants at Winter Garden, Fla., as combining thefollowing principal characteristics:

1. A fast growth rate that is comparable to that of the `Kris Kringle`variety,

2. A natural tendency to branch without inducement by pruning during thegrowth period prior to blooming and which is comparable to that of the`Kris Kringle` variety,

3. Resistances to nutrient deficiencies and fungus type diseases whichare comparable to those of the `Kris Kringle` and `Lavender Doll`varieties,

4. Substantially greater resistance to flower bud abscission as comparedto that exhibited by the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties,and

5. A bloom exhibiting less recurve in the tube forming tepals incomparison to the `Kris Kringle` variety and which commonly occurs fromabout 2 to 4 weeks earlier than blooms of the `Peach Parfait` variety,and has

a. a bloom life of from about 6 to about 9 days,

b. a shorter style and perianth tube than those of the `Kris Kringle`and `Lavender Doll` varieties, and perianth tube laminating and formingtepals with marginal blade areas that in color are dominated by pink,purplish pink, yellowish pink, red and/or reddish orange hues.

The accompanying drawings serve by color photographic means toillustrate the new plant variety and wherein one sheet shows a 6 monthold specimen of the new plant variety that was propagated in the monthof June, and the other sheet illustrates an 11 month old specimen of thenew plant variety that was propagated in the month of January and prunedto one tier above the original cutting the following June, and bloomsand maturing buds of the new variety.

The following is a detailed description of the new plant variety withcolors and hues, unless otherwise clearly indicated by the text throughthe absence of color notations, being named in accord with the ISCC-NBSMethod of designating colors, (U.S. Department of Commerce, NationalBureau of Standards, Circular 553, issued Nov. 1, 1955) the named colorsbeing interpreted from color notations derived by comparison with thecolor specimens in the current "Neighboring Hues Edition" of the MunsellBook of Color, published by the Munsell Color Company, Inc., ofBaltimore, Md. The description is further based on observations of wellfertilized plants of less than one (1) year of age from initialpropagation and which were grown under 50-75% shaded glasshouse nurseryconditions in the Winter Garden, Fla., area and wherein temperaturesrange from 60°-85° F. during the winter months, and from 75°-95° F.during the summer months, and are ambient during the interveningperiods.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

Name: Zygocactus truncatus `Twilight Tangerine`.

Parentage:

Maternal.--Unnamed and unmarketed variety generally resembling theZygocactus truncatus `Lavender Doll` variety but with slightly largerphylloclades and blooms and with poorer natural branchingcharacteristics than exhibited by the `Lavender Doll` variety.

Paternal.--Zygocactus truncatus `Kris Kringle`.

Classification:

Botanic (Britton and Rose, The Cactaceae, Constable and Co., Ltd.,London 1937, Vol. IV).--

    ______________________________________                                        (1)   Family:      Cactaceae                                                  (2)   Tribe:       Cereeae                                                    (3)   Sub-tribe:   Epiphyllanae                                               (4)   Genus:       Zygocactus                                                 (5)   Species:     Truncatus (Haworth) Schumann                               ______________________________________                                    

Commercial.--Thanksgiving-Christmas blooming cactus.

Form: Terrestrial, shade loving, succulent, leafless plant with jointedand branched stems.

Stems:

General.--Irregular with usually multichotomous branching of bothupright and pendulous, adventitiously rootable, flattened phyllocladesthat have a prominent midrib and prominently toothed lateral wings.

Phylloclades.--General: Elongated and flat with transversely elongated,aerole bearing, truncated apex, with inwardly tapering basal wingmargins that merge through a broad, usually pointed basal juncture withthe phylloclades therebelow, and with an axially areole associated witheach tooth. Midrib: General -- Extends longitudinally of phylloclade andcontinuously through joints with laterally tapering cortex at winginsertions. Pith surrounding vascular bundles that branch and providelateral extensions of the vascular system to the marginal teeth. Texture-- Smooth, waxy epidermis with wax in small embedded scales and becomingcorky in basal stem areas with age. Size (2-6 months old) -- Length:Usually between 35 and 55 mm. with the average for respective plantspecimens being usually between 39 and 49 mm. Thickness: Usually between2 and 6 mm.with the average for respective plant specimens being usuallybetween 2 and 4 mm. Color (at maturity) -- Commonly moderate yellowgreen (5 GY 6/6) (5 GY 6/4) (5 GY 5/6) (near 5 GY 5/4) (7.5 GY 5/4)and/or moderate olive green (5 GY 4/4) (7.5 GY 4/4). Wings: Generalshape -- Generally flattened from midrib cortex to tooth insertions withslight thinning taper toward margins and tendency toward undulation ofmargins. Margins -- Toothed (modified leaves). Texture -- Succulent toleathery with smooth, waxy epidermis having wax arranged in smallembedded scales and becoming corky in basal plant areas with age. Size(2-6 months old) -- Center thickness: Usually between 1 and 2.2 mm.Width (as measured from phylloclade axis to most offset lateral areole):Usually between 7 and 19 mm. Color (at maturity) -- Commonly moderateyellow green (5 GY 6/6) (5 GY 6/4) (5 GY 5/6) (near 5 GY 5/4) (7.5 GY5/4) and/or moderate olive green (5 GY 4/4) (7.5 GY 4/4). Teeth: Generalshape -- Generally flattened and tapered along margins from winginsertions to an apex having a hyaline, single cell, pointed spine withnonpredictable bending. Adaxial marginal shape: Usually straight toslightly concave. Abaxial marginal shape: Irregular with tendenciestoward a medial indentation that provides a distal terminus for a convexproximal marginal edge portion, and a basal terminus for a distalmarginal edge portion that varies from straight to convex. Orientation-- Usually projects distally of phylloclade base in an alternatearrangement. Margins -- Entire. Texture -- Succulent to leathery withsmooth waxy epidermis having wax in small embedded scales and becomingcorky in basal plant areas with age. Number -- Usually from 6 to 8 perphylloclade. Size (2-6 months old) -- Center thickness: Usually between0.5 and 2 mm. Areole to apex dimension (adaxial marginal side): Usuallybetween 2 and 8 mm. for teeth located distally of basal teeth. Color (atmaturity) -- Commonly moderate yellow green (5 GY 6/6) (5 GY 6/4) (5 GY5/6) (near 5 GY 5/4) (7.5 GY 5/4) and/or moderate olive green (5 GY 4/4)(7.5 GY 4/4). Areoles: Terminal areole -- Large, elongated, oval-shapedwith several acicular bristles, copious multi-cellular hairs, andseveral buds that may mature into either new phylloclades or flowers.The opposite ends of the areole are located adjacent to subsidiaryareoles which are in turn located at the axils of teeth that are locatedat the distal end of the phylloclade. Axillary areoles -- A few acicularbristles without glochidia but having relatively few short, brownish tocolorless, multi-cellular hairs. In areoles that are located below theteeth at the distal end of the phylloclade, there is usually only onebud which is frequently latent.

Buds: Unarmored, ovid and chlorophyllous.

Flowers:

General.--Sessile, zygomorphic, usually solitary, terminal, perfect andepigynous with double hypanthium and tepals (undifferentiated whorledsepals and petals) having a spiral emergence as a perianth provided witha sepaloid series of free tepals, a tube laminating series of tepals,and a tube forming series of united tepals.

Sepaloid series.--General: Free tepals inserted on top of ovary. Shape:Deltoid in outer members of whorl and grading inwardly in the whorl totepals which are elliptic in shape. Tips are generally acute with someacuminate tendencies. Margins are entire with sparse irregular teethappearing mainly in apex areas of the inner members of the whorl.Texture: Succulent and glabrous outer whorl members and grading inwardlyin the whorl to silken blades with fleshy basal areas. Number: Usuallyfrom 8 to 10. Size (at full bloom): Base-tip dimension -- Usually lessthan 32 mm. Maximum width dimension -- Usually less than 16 mm. Color:Outer whorl members usually have a continuous field and color isdominated by a yellow green hue. Inner whorl members usually have atranslucent white basal area that merges with marginal blade areas whichin color are dominated by pink, purplish pink, yellowish pink, redand/or reddish orange hue. Commonly light yellow green (2.5 GY 8/6)(near 2.5 GY 8/4) (5 GY 8/6) (near 5 GY 8/4), moderate yellow green (2.5GY 7/6) (2.5 GY 7/4) (2.5 GY 6/6) (2.5 GY 6/4) (5 GY 7/6) (5 GY 7/4)(near 5 GY 6/6) (near 5 GY 6/4) and/or strong yellow green (2.5 GY 6/8)(5 GY 6/8) in continuous field of outer whorl members. Commonly lightpink (near 10 RP 8/6), moderate pink (near 10 RP 8/6) (10 RP 7/6) (near5 R 7/6) (2.5 R 7/6) strong pink (10 RP 7/8) (2.5 R 7/8), deep pink(near 5 R 6/8) (2.5 R 6/10) (2.5 R 6/8) (2.5 R 6/10) (near 2.5 R 6/8) (5R 6/10) (5 R 6/8), dark pink (near 5 R 6/6) (10 RP 6/6), light purplishpink (5 RP 8/6), moderate purplish pink (near 7/5 RP 7/8) (near 5 RP7/8), deep purplish pink (7.5 RP 6/10), dark purplish pink (7.5 RP 6/8)(7.5 RP 6/6), strong yellowish pink (5 R 7/8), dark yellowish pink (7.5R 6/6), moderate red (5 R 5/10) (5 R 5/8), and/or moderate reddishorange (7.5 R 6/10) (7.5 R 6/8) (7.5 R 5/10) (near 7.5 R 5/8) inmarginal areas of inner whorl members merging with a translucent whitebasal area. Orientation at full bloom: Varying inwardly in the whorlfrom erect to recurve.

Tube laminating series.--General: Tepals inserted on ovary and basallyunited below the throat as outer laminations on the perianth tube andwith progressively greater amounts of basal fusion inwardly in thewhorl. Shape: Grading inwardly in the whorl with progressively longerbase-tip dimensions and with elliptic blades with some oblanceolatetendencies and long acute tips. Entire margins with sparse, irregularteeth mainly in apex areas. Texture: Succulent, slightly fleshy, basalareas with silken blades. Number: Usually 4 or 5. Size (at full bloom):Base-tip dimension -- Usually between 25 and 52 mm. Maximum widthdimension -- Usually between 12 and 17 mm. Color: Marginal areas are incolor dominated by pink, purplish pink, yellowish pink, red and/orreddish orange hues that merge with a translucent white basal area.Commonly light pink (near 10 RP 8/6), moderate pink (near 10 RP 8/6),strong pink (10 RP 7/8), deep pink (near 10 RP 6/8) (5 R 6/10), darkpink (near 10 RP 6/6), light purplish pink (near 10 RP 8/6), moderatepurplish pink (7.5 RP 7/8), dark purplish pink (7.5 RP 6/8) (7.5 RP 6/6)(5 RP 6/8) (5 RP 6/6), moderate red (5 R 5/10) (b 5 R 5/8), moderatereddish orange (near 7.5 6/10) (7.5 R 6/8) (7.5 R 5/10) (7.5 R 5/8)and/or dark yellowish pink (near 7.5 R 6/6) in marginal areas andmerging with translucent white basal areas. Orientation at full bloom:Acute to recurve.

Tube forming series.--General: Tepals basally united to form hollowperianth tube that is inserted on ovary and equipped with irregularcarina (keel) at throat. Shape: Perianth tube -- Elongated andellipsoidal in cross section. Blades -- Nearly zygomorphic andlanceolate with acute tips. Entire margins with sparse, irregular teethmainly in apex areas. Carina (keel) -- Transcending and irregular.Texture: Perianth tube -- Thick, succulent and slightly ribbed. Blades-- Translucent and silken. Carina (keel) -- Fleshy. Blade Number:Usually 8 or 9. Size (at full bloom): Perianth tube -- Base to keellength: Usually between 24 and 30 mm. along axis of tube with averagelength differences between measurements along dorsal and ventral sidesfor respective specimens usually being between 2 and 6 mm. InternalMajor Axis (at throat): Usually between 6 and 11 mm. when measuredperpendicular to axis at perianth tube. Internal Minor Axis (at throat):Usually between 4 and 8 mm. when measured perpendicular to axis ofperianth tube. Blades -- Length (keel to tip): Usually between 22 and 36mm. Width (maximum): Usually between 8 and 16 mm. Color (at full bloom):Perianth tube -- Translucent white with overtones of color usuallydominated by purplish pink and/or pink hues commonly purplish white (5RP 9/1), pale purplish pink (10 P 8/4) (2.5 RP 8/4) (5 RP 9/2) (5 RP8/4) (5 RP 8/2) (7.5 RP 8/4), light purplish pink (5 RP 8/6), light pink(near 10 RP 8/4) and/or moderate pink (near 10 RP 8/4) in overtone.Blades -- Marginal blade area with color dominated by pink, purplishpink, yellowish pink, red and/or reddish orange hues and merging withtranslucent white basal areas. Commonly dark pink (10 RP 6/6) (near 5 R6/6), deep pink (near 10 RP 6/10) (10 RP 6/8) (5 R 6/10) (5 R 6/8) (2.5R 6/10) (2.5 R 6/8), strong pink (10 RP 7/8) (2.5 R 7/8), dark purplishpink (near 7.5 RP 6/8), strong yellowish pink (near 5 R 7/8), moderatered (near 5 R 5/10) (5 R 5/8), and/or moderate reddish orange (near 10 R6/8) (7.5 R 6/10) (7.5 R 6/8) (near 7.5 R 5/10) (7.5 R 5/8). Carina(keel) -- Commonly strong reddish purple (near 10 P 4/10) (2.5 RP 4/10)and/or deep reddish purple (near 10 P 3/10) (near 10 P 3/8) (2.5 RP3/10) (near 2.5 RP 3/8). Orientation (at full bloom): Erect to recurve.

Androecium (stamens).--General: Numerous exserted and diadelphousstamens with one group having filaments basally fused to the perianthtube and the other group having filaments basally united to form anectary housing, thin annulus around the style which is provided with athin, deflexed, irregularly toothed margin or ruffle at the throat ofthe annulus. Stamen Number: Tube attached group -- Usually between 89and 95. Basally united group -- Usually between 17 and 23. Filaments:General -- Translucent and glabrous with anther connective. Shape --Long, slender and terete. Texture -- Glabrous and silken. Color --Translucent white. Size (at full bloom) -- Length: Tube attached group-- Usually between 32 and 47 mm. Basally united group -- Usually between36 and 47 mm. Diameter: Usually between 0.2 mm and 0.3 mm. intermediatethe opposite ends. Anthers: General -- Adnate with four longitudinallydehiscent pollen sacs. Shape -- Elongated. Texture -- Waxy. Color (postdehiscence) -- Commonly light greenish yellow (10 Y 9/6) (near 7.5 Y9/8) (near 7.5 Y 9/6), brilliant greenish yellow (near (7.5 Y 9/8)and/or light yellow (5 Y 9.6).

gynoecium (pistil).--General: Compound, pariental placentation withunited style surrounded by annular diffuse nectary at its insertion.Style: General -- Stout and inserted in ovary. Shape -- Elongated andterete. Texture -- Fleshy and glabrous with short inner glutinous hairsat distal end. Color -- Commonly strong reddish purple (2.5 RP 5/10),moderate reddish purple (10 RP 4/10), deep purplish pink (5 RP 6/10)and/or moderate purplish red (5 RP 5/8) (near 7.5 RP 4/8). Size (at fullbloom) --Length: Usually between 51 and 55 mm. Diameter: Usually between0.8 and 1.0 mm. intermediate the opposite ends. Stigma: General --Exserted and erect with usually 6 or 7 inner marginally adhering lobes.Shape -- Elongated and tapered toward lobe tips and having relativelyblunt apices. Texture -- Fleshy and smooth with short glutinous hairs.Color -- Commonly strong reddish purple (10 P 5/10) (2.5 RP 5/10) (near2.5 RP 4/10) and/or moderate reddish purple (near 10 P 5/8) (2.5 RP 5/8)(near 2.5 RP 5/6). Size (lobe length at full bloom) -- Usually between3.5 and 5.2 mm. Ovary: General -- Epigynous with thin epidermis anddistally located concavity and with a single cavity having 6 or 7carpels with numerous ovules. Shape -- Terete to ovid and generallybroadening from insertion to floral end and externally ribbed. Texture-- Succulent and glabrous with thin outer epidermis. Color -- Commonlylight yellow green (5 GY 8/6) (near 5 GY 8/4) (2.5 GY 8/6) (near 2.5 GY8/4), moderate yellow green (near 5 GY 7/6) (5 GY 6/6) (5 GT 5/5) (2.5GY 7/6) (2.5 GY 6/6) and/or strong yellow green (2.5 GY 6/8). Size (atfull bloom) -- Length (insertion to concavity base): Usually between 9and 11 mm. Major Axis (distal end of concavity): Usually between 7 and10 mm. Minor Axis (distal end of concavity): Usually between 6 and 9 mm.

Growing characteristics: A fast growth rate that is comparable to thatof the `Kris Kringle` variety with an upright and compact appearance asevidenced by erect stems with heavy (frequent) branching with or withoutpruning, and a natural tendency to branch without inducement by pruningduring the growth period prior to blooming and which is comparable tothat of the `Kris Kringle` variety. Good resistances to nutrientdeficiencies and fungus type diseases and which are comparable to thoseof the `Kris Kringle` and `Lavender Doll` varieties and a substantiallygreater resistance to flower bud abscission in comparison to the`Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties. Generally less recurve inthe tube forming tepals as compared to specimens of the `Kris Kringle`variety and with a bloom life (from initial tepal separation to initialtepal withering) from about 6 to about 9 days.

The following is a general description of a specimen of the new plantvariety that was grown from the propagation of a single phylloclade in anursery at Winter Gardens, Fla.

Age of plant: 6 months from initial propagation.

Branches from propagated cuttings: 4.

Total number of phylloclades grown from cutting: 23.

General:

    ______________________________________                                        Branch No.                                                                            No. of Phylloclades                                                                         Max. Length                                                                              No. of Tips                                  ______________________________________                                        1       6             142 mm.    3                                            2       6             126 mm.    3                                            3       5             148 mm.    2                                            4       6             127 mm.    3                                            ______________________________________                                    

Midribs:

    ______________________________________                                        Branch No.                                                                              Length (avg.)  Thickness (avg.)                                     ______________________________________                                        1         47 mm.         3.6 mm.                                              2         42 mm.         3.2 mm.                                              3         40 mm.         3.6 mm.                                              4         41 mm.         3.0 mm.                                              ______________________________________                                    

Wings:

    ______________________________________                                        Branch No.                                                                            Center Thickness (avg.)                                                                         Max. Width (avg.)                                   ______________________________________                                        1       1.6 mm.           14 mm.                                              2       1.7 mm.           12 mm.                                              3       1.8 mm.           14 mm.                                              4       1.6 mm.           12 mm.                                              ______________________________________                                    

Teeth:

    ______________________________________                                                                          Areole                                                                        to Apex                                             No./Phylloclades                                                                             Center     Dimension                                   Branch No.                                                                            (Avg.)         Thickness  (avg.)                                      ______________________________________                                        1       7              1.23 mm.   4.1 mm.                                     2       6              1.0  mm.   3.3 mm.                                     3       7              1.1  mm.   4.8 mm.                                     4       6               .85 mm.   3.9 mm.                                     ______________________________________                                    

Phylloclade color: Moderate yellow green (5 GY 6/6) (5 GY 6/4) (7.5 GY5/4).

the following is a general description of a flower of the new plantvariety which bloomed in December on a plant grown under shadedglasshouse nursery conditions in Winter Garden, Fla.

Bloom life: 8 days.

Sepaloid series of tepals:

Number.--10.

Size (at full bloom).--Maximum base-tip dimension: 21 mm. Minimumbase-tip dimension: 3 mm. Maximum width dimension: 12 mm.

Color.--Moderate yellow green (2.5 GY 7/6) (2.5 GY 7/4) in field ofouter members. Moderate red (5 R 5/10) and moderate reddish orange (7.5R 6/10) (7.5 R 6/8) in marginal blade areas and merging with translucentwhite basal areas.

Tube laminating series:

Number.--5.

Size (at full bloom).--Maximum base-tip dimension: 42 mm. Minimumbase-tip dimension: 26 mm. Maximum width dimensions: 14 mm. Minimumwidth dimension: 13 mm.

Color.--Moderate red (5 R 5/10) in marginal area and merging with atranslucent white basal area.

Tube forming series of tepals:

Number.--9.

Size (at full bloom).--Perianth tube: Base to keel length -- 25 mm.Interior major axis (at throat) -- 8 mm. Interior minor axis (at throat)-- 6 mm. Blades: Maximum length (keel to tip) -- 26.5 mm. Minimum length(keel to tip) -- 24 mm. Maximum width -- 13 mm. Minimum width -- 9 mm.

Color.--Perianth tube: Translucent white with overtone of pale purplishpink (10 P 8/4) (2.5 RP 8/4). Blades: Moderate reddish orange (7.5 R6/10) in marginal areas and merging with translucent white basal area.Carina (keel): Deep reddish purple (2.5 RP 3/10).

Androecium:

Stamen number.--Tube attached group: 94. Basally united group: 22.

Filaments.--Color: Translucent white. Size (at full bloom): Length --Tube attached group: 38.5 mm. (avg.). Basally united group: 41 mm.(avg.). Diameter -- 0.25 mm. intermediate the opposite ends.

Anthers.--Color (post dehiscence): Light greenish yellow (10 Y 9/6)(near 7.5 Y 9/8).

Gynoecium (pistil):

Style.--Color: Moderate reddish purple (10 RP 4/10). Size (at fullbloom): Length -- 52 mm. Diameter -- 0.9 mm. intermediate the oppositeends.

Stigma.--Color: Strong reddish purple (2.5 RP 5/10) (10 P 5/10). Size:Lobe length about 4 mm.

Ovary.--Color: Moderate yellow green (5 GY 6/6) (5 GY 5/6) (2.5 GY 6/6).Size (at full bloom) -- Length (insertion to concavity base) -- 10 mm.Major axis (distal end of concavity) -- 9 mm. Minor axis (distal end ofconcavity) -- 8 mm.

We claim:
 1. The new and distinct variety of the Cactaceae familysubstantially as herein shown and described and which has a growth habitproviding specimens that combine the following principal distinguishingcharacteristics:1. A fast growth rate as comparable to that of the `KrisKringle` variety,
 2. A natural tendency to branch without inducement bypruning during the growth period prior to blooming and which iscomparable to that of the `Kris Kringle` variety,
 3. Resistances tonutrient deficiencies and fungus type diseases that are comparable tothose of the `Kris Kringle` and `Lavender Doll` varieties,
 4. Asubstantially greater resistance to flower bud abscission in comparisonto the `Lavender Doll` and `Kris Kringle` varieties, and
 5. A bloom withless recurve in the tube forming tepals in comparison to the `KrisKringle` variety and which commonly occurs from about 2 to 4 weeksearlier than bloom of the `Peach Parfait` variety, and havinga. a bloomlife of from about 6 to about 9 days, b. a shorter style and perianthtube than those of the `Kris Kringle` and `Lavender Doll` varieties, andc. perianth tube laminating and forming tepals with marginal blade areasthat in color are dominated by pink, purplish pink, yellowish pink, redand/or reddish orange hues.